Taximeter.



L. GIARI].

TAXIMETER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 19%2.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I Inve ntbr' wifnesges L. GIARD.

TAXIMETER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1992.

1,200,827. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 27 g 55/ ii Z4 ///Z0 5 25 4f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS GIABD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB, .TO AMERICAN TAXIMETER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAXIMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed November 26, 1912. Serial No. 733,604.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS GIARD, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at New York city, in the borough of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Taximeters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in registering devices employed on taxicabs andother vehicles for the purpose of indicating the charge made against the user of the vehicle, and more particularly the length of time the vehicle is being used, where a time charge is imposed.

The object is to devise a register having I a dial which will show plainly at a glance at any moment the time that has elapsed since the user of the vehicle began the hiring, and hence will show clearly to him the amount which he is indebted for its service to him, thus enabling the occupant of the taxicab to keep watch of the passing of the time and the increase of the charge as 7 time passes, and consequently to be always fully informed respecting the sum which he will be obliged to pay.

The invention consists essentially in the combination with an ordinary clock mechanism and dial of a relatively larger dial and pointer which will indicate on a large scale the lapse of time between the time of hiring and the time when the user glances at the dial or reaches his destination. And also the invention comprises numerous details and peculiarities in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and, then more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention: Figure l is a. front elevation of my improved taximeter. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Flg. 3 is a cross section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4, {of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the means for preventmg tampering with the clock mechanism, said view being on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

The example of clock mechanism which 1s shown at 1, having an ordinary clock dial at 10, has no peculiar structural features, but is of any usual construction, and it may be sald that any common and well-known clock mechanism can be employed, and therefore such clock mechanism is not illustrated in detail as it is unnecessary. The clock dial 10 is suitably located at some point in connection with a large circular dial 11 which will usually be several times as large in diameter as the clock face 10. The clock face 10 is so'related to the large dial 11 that it can easily be glanced at, at the same time that an inspection is made of the dial 11. While the clock face 10 has the usual hands 12 and 13 the large dial 11 is provided with a single hand 14: supported at the center of the dial 11 and vibrating across the face of this dial. The circumference of the dial 11 at its outer rim is divided into equal spaces having a series of division marks, as for instance 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, denoting hours, and each one of these spaces is also subdivided into quarter hours by the marks and i Of course this series of graduation marks or division marks may be changed as much as may be desired, and it is intended to have some relation to the ordinary times for The object of the large dial 11 and its pointer 14 is to indicate to the customer at a glance and on a large scale the lengthof time he has been using the vehicle. @When the use begins the pointer will be at 0. When the use has continued for an hour it will stand at l; for two hours at 2, etc.; and for the fractions of hours at the appropriate quarter hour marks. In this way the pointer 14: shows to the occupant of the vehicle at any moment the exact amount of time he has already consumed. If desired, the tariff for the time so used may be placed contiguous to each-of the hour marks or quarter hour marks, so that not only the time consumed but the corresponding charge will be instantly shown to the customer wheneverhe inspects the dial. These tarifis are shown for example: 56 cents at 0, for this will be a minimum charge exacted at the time of hiring; then 80 cents may be the total charge at the end of one hour; $1.10 at the end of two hours and so on.

One of the gear wheels 15 of the clock train, which wheel is on the shaft 16 that carries the clock hands 12 and 13 is in mesh with a large gear wheel 17 supported in a movable frame 18. The gear wheel 17 has attached thereto a companion gear 19 having much finer teeth than the gear 17. Said gear wheel- 19 is adapted to engage a small pinion 20 on the shaft 21 to which the dial pointer 14 is attached. The frame 18 that carries the double gears 17 and 19 is provided with-a rigid annular arm 22 wh1ch presses tightly against the periphery of a wheel 23. A spring 24 attached to the end of the frame 18 and also to a fixed point in the casing 50 of the meter serves to pull the frame 18 upwardly and consequently draws the arm 22 into close contact with the wheel. 23. The latter wheel is notched at 25. Thus, in the revolution of the wheel 23 when the angular end 26 of the arm 22-drops into the notch 25 the spring 24 will lift the frame 18 sufiiciently to bring the fine toothed gear 19 into mesh with the pinion 20, and when thls engagement is effected it will be evident that the pointer 14 will be actuated by the clock train, because the latter will set in motion the two gears 17 and 19 and the pinion 20 will then be driven. The diameters of these different gears are so proportioned that the pointer 14 will move over the face of the dial 11 and mark accurately on thedarge scale the amount of time which is indicated on a much smaller scale by the regular clock face 10.

The wheel 23 is fast on a horizontal shaft 27 that is mounted in the casing of the meter. On the outer end of the shaft 27 which projects through the back of the meter, or at some other convenient polnt, is attached a handle 28 carrying a flag 29. When the vehicle is not being hired by-a customer the rod 28 and flag 29 stand in the usual upright position shown in Fig. 1, but when the vehicle has been hired then the flag 29 is turned down into the position shown in dotted lines, and the post or rod 28 is correspondingly lowered. When the flag is-thus lowered the notched wheel 23 will be so turned that the notch 25 will receive the arm 26 and thus allow the gears to come into engagement with each other, as already explained, and will thus cause the pointer 14 to feel the influence of the clock train and to move in harmony therewith, it being noted that the lowering of the flag takes place simultaneously with the employment of the vehicle by the user.

The shaft 27 which carries the flag 29 carries a loose arm 43 connected by a spring 44 to some fixed part of the casing of the device, and shaft 27 also carries a fast arm 45 having a pin 47 which is adapted to strike the loose arm 43 when the fiag is lowered, the effect of this contact being to remove a hook or detent 48 on the end of the arm 43 from the notch in the heart-shaped cam 46 on the pointer shaft 21. When the flag is lifted into the position where the device is idle it is necessary of course to restore the pointer 14 to its zero position, and this is brought about by the spring 44 pulling upon the arm 43'and causing the detent 48 to strike against the edge of the heart-shaped cam 46. The pressure of the detent 48 on the cam 46 will rotate shaft 21 and throw the pointer back into a position where it will point to zero.

The shaft 27 which carries the flag rod 28 and flag 29 also has thereon a cam wheel 30, see Fig. 5, which is adapted to engage a lever 34 fulcrumed at 35 at its lower end by means of a pin or screw in the main casing 50. This lever 34 has an angular upper end 33 which is adapted to bear against the face 32 of the cam 30 when the flag is in its upright position, and against the face 31 of the cam 30 when the flag is in its lowered position. A

spring 36 attached to the lever 34 at one end and at the other end to a fixed point in the casing 50 draws the angular end 33 of the lever 34 against the face of the cam 30. The function of the arm 34 is merely to assist in holding the flag in the position wherethe device is idle or in the position where it is operative. Alongside of the lever 34 is an other lever 37 fulcrumed at 38 in casing 50 and having its upper end made angular and in loose contact with the notched hub of rod 28 in rear of projection 39 on the cam 30. When the flag is lowered the said notched hub actuates the upper end of the lever 37 and vibrates the lever on its fulcrum so that the lower end of the'said lever which is near the bottom of the casing 50 is caused to pass over the opening 51 in said casing, through which opening the hands-setting key 41 for the clock is usually introduced, and thus the lever 37, when the flag is lowered, is kept in a position between the hands-setting shaft 42 of the clock train and the opening 51 all as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. At this tlme, therefore, the lever 37 obstructs the opening 51 and prevents the introduction of the key through the same. This is for the purpose of making it impossible for the driver of a taxicab or other vehicle to tamper with the clock mechanism while the vehlcle is 1n use by a customer. The spring 57 attached to the lever 37 and also to a part of the casing 50 acts to withdraw the lever 37 into its idle position when the actuating part is removed therefrom by the rotation of the cam 30 when the flag is again lifted. A catch 52 having a spring 56 drops into a notch 53 in the cam when the flag is lowered and permits an arm 54.- of said catch to contact with a disk 55 on shaft 21 for the purpose of steadying said shaft and allowing the gear 19 to engage pinion 20 without disturbing the pointer 14.

It will be obvious that many changes in the precise construction arrangement and combination of the various parts may be made without exceeding the scope of my invention, and I, therefore, reserve the liberty of making all such changes as experience may dictate to be wise and advantageous.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is o 1. In a taximeter, the combination w1tl1' a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, of a large graduated dial having graduations thereon and a single pointer therefor, the same intended to indicate on a large scale the measure of time elapsing between the time of hiring and the time when the destination or other point is reached, a gearing connection between the clock mechanism and the pointer for the large dial, said gearing connection including a pair of gear wheels, one having more teeth than the other, and a movable frame in which the gear wheels are mounted, means for showing whether the vehicle is occupied or not, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for controlling the clock mechanism.

2. In a taximeter, the combination with a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, of a large graduated dial and its pointer, said large dial and pointer being intended to indicate on a large scale the measure of time elapsing between the time of hiring and the time when the destination is reached, a shaft for the pointer of the large dial, a pinion on the shaft, a pairof gears for multiplying motion, one gear having more teeth than the other, a movable frame in which they are mounted, one of which meshes with said pinion on the said pointer shaft while the other is driven by the clock mechanism, means for showing whether-the vehicle is occupied or not, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for controlling the clock mechanism.

3. In a taximeter, the combination with a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, of a large graduated dial and its pointer, said dial and pointer being intended to indicate on a large scale the measure of time elapsing between the time of hiring and the time when the destination or other point is reached, a pair of gears, one having more teeth than the other, a movable frame supanism, and means for preventing the introductionof the clock key when the large dial pointer is in use.

4. In a taximeter, the combination of a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, a large graduated dial and its pointer for indicating the measure of time elapsing while the vehicle is in use, a shaft carrying a pointer for the large dial, a pinion on the shaft, :1 mm able frame having a projecting arm, multiplying gearing mounted in said frame, spring means for moving said frame so that the gearing will engage with the pinion on the pointer shaft, means for showing whether the vehicle is occupied or not, said means includinga notched wheel, in whose notch the end of the arm of the movable frame engages, a spring-controlled detent on the shaft of the notched wheel, anothe pin-provided arm fast on the notched wheel shaft and adapted to engage the loose detent to throw it out of engagement, and a cam on the'shaft of the large dial, which cam is engaged by said (letent.

5. In a taximeter, the combination of a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, a large dial having graduations thereon, a pointer for said dial, means for showing whether the vehicle is rented or not, means controlled by the last mentioned means for connecting the clock mechanism with the pointer so as to actuate the latter, and means for preventing the introduction of the clock key when the large dial pointer is in use, said means being controlled by the means for showing whether the vehicle is rented or not.

6. In a taximeter, the combination of a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, a large graduated dial and its pointer for representing on a large scale the measure of time during which the vehicle is used, multiplying gearing connections between the clock mechanism and the shaft of the large pointer, means for indicating whether the vehicle is occupied or not, said means including a flag and its arm, and a shaft to which the arm is attached, a cam on said shaft, means for holding the cam in position to show the flag, and a yielding arm actuated by a hub on the same shaft that carries said cam for preventing access of the clock key to the clock mechanism when the large dial pointer is in use.

7. In a meter or register for vehicles or the like, the combination with a clock mechthe last menanism, clock dial and hands, a large dial having graduations, which graduations denote divisions of time and are intended to indicate on a large scale the measure of time elapsing between the time of hiring and the time when the destination or other point is reached, a pointer operating on said dial,

means for showing whether the vehicle is occupied or not, means controlled by the last-mentioned means for controlling the clock mechanism, and means consisting of a covering arm adapted to prevent access of the clock key to the clock mechanism when the large dial pointer is connected with said mechanism.

8. In a meter or register for vehicles of various kinds, the combination of a clock and its mechanism, .a large dial and its pointer, said large dial being marked with a series ofgraduations denoting hours so that the said dial may indicate on a large scale the time that elapses between the time of the hiring of a vehicle and that when the user reaches his destination or other point, means whereby the clock mechanism actuates said pointer when the vehicle is occupied, means for indicating whether the vehicle is occupied or not, comprising a flag and its arm, a shaft to which said arm is attached, a cam on said shaft, means for holding the cam in position to show the flag, and means likewise actuated by the cam for preventing access to the clock mechanism in an unauthorized way when the pointer is connected with the clock mechanism for actuation, substantially as described.

9. In a taximeter, the combination .of a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, a large graduated dial, a pointer for said dial, a shaft carrying the pointer, a pinion on the shaft, a movable frame having a projecting arm, multiplying gearing mounted in said frame for transmitting motion from the clock mechanism to the dial pointer, spring means for moving said frame so that the gearing will engage with the pinion on the shaft of the large dial pointer at times, means for showing whether the vehicle is occupied or not, said means including a notched wheel against which the arm of the movable frame bears, a shaft for said notched wheel, a spring-controlled detent on fast on the notched wheel shaft, and adapted to engage the loose detent to throw it out of engagement.

10. In a taximeter, the combination of a clock and its mechanism, a large dial'and its pointer, means whereby the 'clock mechanism actuates said pointer when the vehicle is occupied, means for indicating whether the vehicle is occupied or not, comprising a flag and its arm, a shaft to which said arm is attached, a cam on said shaft having faces, a spring-provided lever having an angular upper end for engaging one face of said cam when the flag is raised, and engaging another face of said cam when the flag is lowered, and a covering lever provided with a spring and having a fulcrum in its length, which lever is engaged by the hub of the flag arm and actuated so that said lever will cover the clock shaft in such a way as to prevent access to the clock mechanism in a nonauthorized manner when the large dial pointer is connected with the clock mechanism for actuation.

11. In a taximeter, the combination of a clock mechanism, having a clock face and hands for indicating time in the usual way, a large graduated dial and its pointer for indicating on a large scale the measure of time elapsing while the vehicle is in use, a gearing connection between the clock mechanism and the pointer of the large dial, means for showing whether the vehicle is occupied or not, said means including a notched wheel and its shaft, a cam wheel on the shaft of the notched wheel, an angular ended lever adapted to engage certain faces of the cam to hold the parts in one position at one time and another position at another time, and another spring-provided pivoted arm actuated by a notched hub on the notched wheel shaft to prevent access of the clock key to the clock mechanism when the large dial pointer is in gear.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS GIARD.

Witnesses CHAS. RICHARD, E. EDELSTEIN. 

